Railway rail



Aug. 11, 1925. 1,549,296

R. H. CLAPP RAILWAY RAIL Filed July 11, 1924 IN VEN TOR A TTORNEYSPatented Aug. 11, 1925.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROGER H. (JLAIIPP, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO CLAUDE A.WITTER, 01E PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY RAIL.

Application filed July 11, 1924. Serial No. 725,389.

This invention relates to railway rails and is especially useful inconnection with rails for steam railroads.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a two-part rail,one part of which,the base,is practically a permanent member, and theother part of which, the head,is renewable.

The primary purpose of this construction is the reduction of the cost ofmaintenance over the present style of rails used. In the present rail,only about one-third of the head, or about 14% of the entire weight, isever used up in regular service, the remaining 86% being used forrelaying or scrap.

I am aware that many attempts have been made to provide a two-part railbut, in so faras I am aware, none of them have met with commercialemployment for the reason that their structural characteristics weresuch as to introduce difliculties or objections which outweighed theadvantages to be gained. Certain of the diificulties of this characterwill become manifest in connection with the description of my invention.

I propose to provide a two-part rail of a practical character such aswill enable its use in the realization of the advantages incident tosuch a general construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved two-part railin which the head member is reversible as well as renewable. 7

Still another object of the invention is to provide a two-part rail inWhich provision is made 'for contraction and expansion.

More specifically it is an object of my invention to provide a two-partrail, the parts of which may be simply manufactured. How the foregoing,together with such other objects as may hereinafter appear;

or are incident to my invention, are obtained is illustrated in theaccompanying d w g n whi h the fig re is a pa lally sectional and partlyisometric perspective view of a rail embodying my invention.

Referring now to the drawing, the reference character A designates thebase rail which is of a construction such that it may be readily rolled.This base rail member can well be made of soft structural steel and ismore or less permanent. It may well be attached to the ties by screws,the reason Why spikes are at present employed being that the rail, as awhole, must be readily removable. f

The base rail has a groove. 7 located in its upper face and extendinglongitudinally thereof, such groove being central of the rail. Thisgroove is formed by the small flange 8 and the upstanding flange, kneeThe head rail member B is of T section,--

comprising the usual head 10 and a de ending flange 11 which is locatedcentra of the head and extends longitudinally o the rail member. Thehead rail may be readily rolled. v

The depending flange 11 fits within the groove 7 and abuts against theupstanding flange 9 or column of the base rail.

The two flanges are provided with bolt holes through which the bolts 12pass and in which they have a loose fit so that substantially the onlyfunction performed by suc bolts is to secure the flanges together, a ofthe weight being transmitted directly to the base rail member. The railis preferably assembled with the column 9- on the out-' side so thatthis column receives the lateral thrusts, thetoe of the flange 11 beingheld in the groove.

The head rail, being of T construction, is capable of bein reversed aswear takes place, to which en I so locate the bolt holes in therespective members that they are the renewa le f a r will far more t an.com ensate for such increased cost. In the neig borhood of 30% of therail can be used up before removal of the head rail member. Furthermore,the amount of metal and also the disposition o fthe metal, particularlyin the base rail member, are such that the rail, considered as anentirety, is consider- 'ably more rigid than the present rail, which isan item of great importance and advantage for the reason that, owing tothe rapid development of locomotive power, the increased tonnage, andalso the increase in train speeds, the present rail has been found to betoo elastic.

It will be noted that the column 9 terminates short of the head i. e'.,there is no load transmitted by'the head to such column. If therewereany load transmitted by the Head to the column, the head would pound'out and elongate laterally.-

Among other advantages are that forms of splices now in use may beemployed with curves, while the head rail may not be reversed,nevertheless it can be reversed which is of great advantage as the wearis excessive.

I claim: L. A railway rail comprising a base rail member having a groove.and an upstandin flange, a head rail member having a head and adepending flange the lower edge of which fits the groove and rests uponthe base rail for the transmission of the load,

the upstanding flange being out of contactwith the head, bolt holes inthe flanges dis posed so thehead rail member'may be reversed, and boltsfor securing the flanges.

2. A railway rail comprising a base rail member having a groove and anupstanding flange, a head rail member having a head and a dependingflange the lower edge of which fits the groove and rests upon the baserail for the transmission of the load, the upstanding flange being outotcontact with the head, bolt holes in the flanges dis posed so the-headrail member may be reversed, and bolts for securing the flanges certainof the holes being elongated to provide for expansion and contractlon.

3. A railway rail comprising a base rail member having a groove and anupstandin flange, a head rail member having a hea and a depending flangethe lower edge of which fits the groove and rests u on the base rail forthe transmission of t e load, the upstanding flange being out of contactwith the head, bolts holes in the flanges disposed so the head railmember may be reversed, and bolts for securin the flanges,

the bolts having a loose fit or expansion.

4. A railway rail comprising a base rail member having a central grooveand an upstanding flange to one side of the groove, a head, memberhavinga central depending flange adapted to fit in said groove and to transmitall of the weight to the .base rail, and means for securmg the flangestogether.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

a ROGER H. CLAPP.

